Where do you stand?

When I first began talking to Kobutsu Malone a while back, mainly over Skype, he said to me in no uncertain terms that I’d need to eventually decide where I stand on the issues facing the Buddhist community, namely that of misconduct (in all its shapes, sizes and genders). I didn’t know quite what he meant by that at the time – it seemed a rather odd statement to make. I couldn’t then see what he was talking about, really. Certainly I understood that misconduct and misuse of one’s position was not isolated to one or two, but I hadn’t had the insight derived from spending hours with the disaffected as he had.

Today I see what he meant by it. As a publisher, for instance, I had to decide what I am here to do. Was I here to distort the image of Buddhist practice in the West by ignoring inconvenient truths that arise along the way? Was I to ignore that kind of stuff and focus exclusively on, for lack of a better term, fluff pieces? Again, I didn’t really understand the gravity of what he was even talking about at the time. It didn’t seem so obvious to me that things were as bad as that. But, since that time, I have made some observations about how teachers and other publications handle the tough issues and have had to wrestle with where (and why) I factor in to any of it. After all, as many have pointed out, I don’t have a teacher and I don’t practice with any local sangha. It’s a fair question to then ask what the hell I have to do with any of this.

First, it really isn’t that all teachers are transgressors. I can’t stress that enough, in case the ones we have covered during our run had left that impression among any of you. With that said, and this is my opinion, too many within the so-called network of Buddhist teachers possess personalities which are conflict-averse. We couple that with teachings on emptiness, great doubt, along with longstanding loyalties, and it’s no wonder we see so little done or advanced on these issues. Instead, there is still room for the transgressors themselves to bully and threaten those who use their voice.

I decided a while back that I really don’t feel it’s my choice where the website goes, in many ways. I used to strive to really engender a sense of “balanced views” here, and am still 100% committed to serving up the teachings (if teachers will continue participating, which is always a question mark. Many come and go). But, these days, I don’t really care to inflict a balanced view on the coverage. The things that have been coming up lately are what they are, and no amount of lipstick makes them more beautiful or cute. I want the coverage to reflect the reality, and the reality is that when teachers transgress, there is a network that helps to enable and perpetuate it. It is not done willfully or perhaps even consciously, but the effect is still just as devastating. Transgressors rely on your silence. They thrive on minimizing languages and double-speak. One moment we speak to the predations of an individual, and in the next moment we’re discussing their True Dharma Eye.

About Adam Kō Shin Tebbe

Adam Kō Shin Tebbe (Kō Shin meaning Shining Heart) is editor at Sweeping Zen and is a blogger for Huffington Post's Religion section, writing mainly on topics of interest to Zen practitioners. Before starting the website in 2009, Adam trained to be a chemical dependency counselor. Adam is currently working on a documentary on Zen in North America (titled Zen in America) with a projected release date of 2017.

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7 comments

If someone cannot keep their wee wee in their pants, then they should not be teaching Buddhism because overcoming sensual desire is one of the most difficult challenges most people will face when cultivating enlightenment.

Just as someone seeking to lose weight shouldn’t go to a Chinese buffet for advice on how to go about that, in my opinion.

Hi Adam,
I really appreciate what you are doing. I think (as you say) it is important to tell the whole story and I appreciate your take on all this. There was also an occasion when I had a problem with something that someone else had posted because I knew it to be untrue and it was really mean. You worked with me and the one who posted and got it taken off. I appreciated that. So my feeling is gratitude for what you are doing and encouragement. I see that you have a commitment to fairness and truth. And I hope you have a good support system since this is tough work.
Thanks,
Seisen

I believe your legal risks are minimal here. In fact, if you have a stomach for such things and a good attorney, you might even make some money. The last public information available put UM’s net worth at close to a million dollars. Somebody there seems to do lots of investing. Its expenses are basically Ken McLeod and two websites that cost a few thousand a year and are run on volunteer labor.

Your real risk, and I am sure you are far more aware of it than I am, is lack of support. Many people become “Buddhists” hoping to join a conflict-free corner of the world. They donate to those who help them live in that illusory bubble. Like many “good people” everywhere they do not want to see the evidence that their “goodness” and naivete often enables bullies. Rather than donate to someone who needs support popping the bubble, they either vilify the popper and encase themselves further in the same bubble or or go find another one to donate to.

I want to underscore a thousand times your insight: “too many within the so-called network of Buddhist teachers possess personalities which are conflict-adverse. We couple that with teachings on emptiness, great doubt, along with longstanding loyalties, and it’s no wonder we see so little done or advanced on these issues. Instead, there is still room for the transgressors themselves to bully and threaten those who use their voice.”

May I add that many Buddhist students are even more conflict averse?

I have no connection to you or Sweeping Zen and barely knew you existed a few months ago but I notice your donations are down. May all those who truly want to bring the amazing benefits of Buddhism into the modern world AS IT IS and not as we would wish it to be, do something about that.

Please.

Thank you for your courageous service to dharma, transparency and freedom of speech.

It’s basic. People want the world to be one way and it’s another. Zen is about living in the world as it is and being the people who we are.

Hiding scandals is trying to distort the world into something it is not.

I think there is a natural danger in Zen that’s often ignored in the West. Emptiness gets elevated and out of balance.

My body might want some woman. That’s one vote. My mind may choose to inhibit that want. To say either the body always gets the casting vote or the mind always gets the casting vote is to fall into error.

Just because body or mind want something does not justify it or does not mean I should act on it. To do so elevates input into a god. This is not about denial or disowning. It’s about owning everything – “I experience this and that’s OK. It does not MEAN anything necessarily”.

In the UK a Math Teacher ran away with a 15-year-old student whom he is apparently in a relationship with. How did it happen? Both must have fealt thir feelings meant something and had o be acted on. Students get crushes on teachers all the time – It’s part of gowing up. Having a younger attractive member of the opposite sex admire you can be a real seductive ego boost. It’s only when you feel the need to do something about it do the problems begin. It’s only when you treat the feelings as sacred do the problems begin.

Adam, I’m new to your siite and fairly new to this controversy. It’s just my opinion, but truth would seem to be the best course – with some compassion when possible. That’s what seems to work best in my life. Denial can feel great, until it doesn’t and that moment always seems to crash through.

Truth is fine, so is balanced representation. Those whom trash all teachers and institutions are also being stupid.

Of course there are Masters, just as there are Master Chefs, plumbers and teachers. Same with Zen.

You can’t just pick it up from a book and in this instant information age, people mistake understanding for genuine insight.

That is a huge issue and the only thing I take exception to in these endeavours. Scandal is interesting and enlivening, but we should also always focus on the core reason of our practice — which takes a lot and a lot of practice.

About Sweeping Zen

Established in 2009 as a grassroots initiative, Sweeping Zen is a digital archive of information on Zen Buddhism. Featuring in-depth interviews, an extensive database of biographies, news, articles, podcasts, teacher blogs, events, directories and more, this site is dedicated to offering the public a range of views in the sphere of Zen Buddhist thought. We are also endeavoring to continue creating lineage charts for all Western Zen lines, doing our own small part in advancing historical documentation on this fabulous import of an ancient tradition. Come on in with a tea or coffee. You're always bound to find something new.

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